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Residents, business owners press council over golf-cart rentals; city says ordinance review ongoing
Summary
Residents and a local business owner pressed the council June 2 about golf-cart rentals, enforcement and possible monopolies. Council and staff said an ordinance review and an e-bike policy are in progress and that staff will pursue enforceable identification for rental carts.
Several residents and a business owner pressed Orange Beach leaders June 2 to address what they described as growing safety and enforcement problems tied to golf-cart rentals and e-bikes.
Retired Pensacola Police Department veteran and local property owner Randall Rickard (Speaker 3) said he applied for a residential business license to operate two carts and was denied, arguing the city’s enforcement has created what he described as a local monopoly for larger cart companies. “All I wanted was 2 carts,” Rickard said, adding he believes the ordinance was amended in 2014 and that enforcement unevenness has disadvantaged residents.
Councilmembers and staff acknowledged safety concerns on sidewalks and multiuser pathways and said the council is working on a package of changes. One council member (Speaker 8) said the council is “dedicated” to addressing the problem and noted an e-bike policy draft is under review. City Administrator Ford Hanley (Speaker 20) said staff are operating under the current ordinance until council adopts changes.
Council discussed options including clearer identification for rental carts (flags or decals), enforcement thresholds tied to vehicle speed and location, and potential restrictions on residential-based rentals. Council members emphasized the distinction between sales of golf carts (which a council member said is acceptable) and rentals deployed from private residences, which they said are harder to regulate and enforce.
Council directed staff to continue working on ordinance revisions and enforcement measures and said it aims to bring proposals back for consideration in the coming weeks.
